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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Preaching The Psalmbr... -- Matthew 17:1-9, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2 -- 2008
Preaching The PsalmPsalm 2
It's hard to imagine a... -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
It's hard to imagine a candidate running for president today without a veritable army of
When I worked with churches... -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
When I worked with churches searching for a new pastor, they were often tempted to go
Erica seemed like an ordinary... -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Erica seemed like an ordinary person who attended church each week. She did not
The cliché is well known... -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
The cliché is well known: "You can't judge a book by its cover." But how about this one:
Allen Carr (1934-2006) smoked for... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Allen Carr (1934-2006) smoked for 31 years. He tried many times to stop, but, he usually
We live in the country... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
We live in the country. Occasional farm lights flicker in the distance, but our trees hide
Living in the light took... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Living in the light took on a whole new dimension for me in 1942 when the electricity
The story of how Annie... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
The story of how Annie Sullivan taught Helen Keller (who lacked the ability to see and
C. S. Lewis, the author... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
C. S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, and lecturer at Cambridge
Zion Church had a reputation... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Zion Church had a reputation of supporting missionaries in several countries around the
It seems Jesus isn't the... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
It seems Jesus isn't the only one who can make the blind see. Dr. William Dobelle has
Here is preaching's central event... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Here is preaching's central event. Preaching doesn't occur just when someone shouts,
My brother-in-law raised... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
My brother-in-law raised cattle in northeast Kansas. One summer, years ago, when my
One of the most fascinating... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
One of the most fascinating experiences of our trip to the Holy Land was standing on top
Hope comes when new life... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Hope comes when new life is breathed into a situation where none appears to exist.
Hint: If God ever asks... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Hint: If God ever asks you the question, "Can these bones live?" the correct answer is a
The Congregational Church of Machias... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
The Congregational Church of Machias, Maine, which dates back to the eighteenth
Edith Burns lived in San... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Edith Burns lived in San Antonio, and she always introduced herself this way: "Hello, my
It was shocking when Mark... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
It was shocking when Mark was caught stealing from the house of one of his friends. No
Paul may not have known... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Paul may not have known how easy it is to set our minds on the flesh. For example, in
Bea was always serious about... -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Bea was always serious about her faith, but only after her sixtieth birthday did she feel
I can only guess how... -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
I can only guess how many graves I've seen while officiating at scores of funerals in
Thomas said, Let us go... -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Thomas said, "Let us go that we may die with him."
Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell survived... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell survived the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, but was burned over

Political Pulpit

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 22
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A football, a hand-held microphone, a camera, a stack of play money bills. These are the objects I used, but you can use any objects that might symbolize “success”.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
For October 20, 2024:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (v. 4)

The outhouse on the farm where I grew up was beside the ash pile, at the end of a well-worn path, under a boxelder tree about fifty yards from the back door of the house. It was a two-seater – cold in winter, smelly and hot in summer. There was always a Sears and Roebuck catalogue on the floor in the corner, which served as both reading and wiping material.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Most people assume God’s answer to Job, showing him the depth and breadth of the universe is meant to cow Job’s resistance, leading him, now broken, to repent, abjectly saying “...therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (42:6).”
Mark Ellingsen
All the lessons testify to the theme that it’s not at all about you and me; it’s all about God!

Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, "What is it you want me to do for you?" In our worship, let us explore what we want Jesus to do for us today.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we are sometimes selfish in our requests to you.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we are sometimes unreasonable in our requests to you.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, help us to make you the centre of our world.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
The story of Job is familiar to all of us -- a man whose world was spinning merrily along with everything falling into place is suddenly confronted with one misery after another ... disaster, death, disease, and despair. In some of the most moving poetry ever written, chapter after chapter attempts to deal with the age-old question of why, so often, life is unfair.

Schuyler Rhodes
The voice of praise rings beautifully through this psalm as each verse gives poetic color to the glories of creation and its maker. It is something to be read and re-read as we contemplate the wonders of God.
Steven Molin
There is a candy shop in the city of Keystone, South Dakota, just a few hundred yards down the mountain from that infamous Mount Rushmore monument. I can't tell you the name of that candy store, but I can certainly recall the sign on the counter that stands at just about eyeball-level for the average seven-year-old. The sign says this: "If Mom says, 'No,' ask Grandma!"

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
An elementary principle in the business world is the law of supply and demand. When supplies outrace the demand for a product, prices are low. We call that a "buyer's market." On the other hand, when there are more buyers demanding a product than there are supplies of the product, prices are high. We call that situation a "seller's market."

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